(A/N: Let's go! First major character arc! First up: Cornelia, Euphie and Nonette).

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass or Fairy Tail

"In this world there's nothing more precious than that of loyal siblings."
—Cornelia Heurassein

July 8th

Knightmare Frame Guildhouse

On one of the warmer days in the mid-summer month, the skies were gray and cloudy. It looked like rain could fall any minute.

Despite this, Lloyd and Rakshata were out back working at their respective forges and many other members of the guild were out on their respective missions.

Guinevere in particular, was off-put about the rain. "Tsk, it's so dreary out there, how unsightly," she scoffed as she leaned her elbow against the windowsill, staring out the glass frame.

"Does it remind you of days long since passed, Guinevere, the gray sky?" Schneizel asked.

"Hmph," Guinevere replied, saying nothing.

Carine hoisted herself up to the windowsill as she sat on a stool. "At least if it rains it will be good for the plants," she remarked. As Carine could manipulate anything with chlorophyll in it, she was better off the stronger the plants around her.

"That it will be little one," Schneizel said with a smile.

"Hey, I'm the same age as Nunnally, I'm not so little, Schneizel," Carine pouted, turning towards him.

Schneizel laughed. "Quite right, quite right," he crossed one arm in front of him and one arm behind him and bowed, "my apologies."

"Still, why does it have to be so gloomy out? I want to go back to the beach," Milly whined.

"Why haven't you?" Gino asked. "No one's stopping you."

Milly was about to say something, but she then saw Euphie run down the stairs in very formal apparel. She was wearing a silk, black gown as though she were in mourning for something. She was wearing a headdress atop her head as well made of flowers. "Come on sis, we're going to be late. Nonette's already at the station I think."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Cornelia said rather unenthusiastically. Kallen was intrigued to see Cornelia wearing a black dress. She said nothing, but remained confused as she and Euphemia headed out together.

"That's the first time I've seen Cornelia look so sad," Shirley said. "I wonder what's wrong."

"Oh, is it that time of year already?" Schneizel asked, thinking aloud as he passed by Shirley and Kallen's table with a tray of food.

"That time of year?" Kallen looked at Schneizel in confusion.

"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know, either of you, since you're relatively new to the guild. Cornelia and Euphemia are going with Nonette to the cemetery to visit their older sister, Estellise."

"Older sister?"

"Sorry, I dare not say more," Schneizel apologized, "Cornelia confided in me a few years back. If she wants to talk about it you can ask her about it when she gets back."

Cornelia's older sister, Kallen thought as she looked out the front door of Knightmare Frame's guildhouse.

Several Hours Later

Magnolia Cemetery

There was no body to be buried at Estellise's gravesite. She hadn't died here on the mainland. Estellise—Estelle as she was referred to by all but her siblings out of those who had known her—and her sisters were from the southeastern island between Fiore and Minstrel, specifically the regal city of Sylvas. On this island there lived a high aristocratic society. Cornelia, Euphemia and Nonette were all from that island. The siblings had been members of nobility. Nonette was just a guard and Cornelia's best friend when they lived there. Estelle never made it off the island.

Upon arriving in the mainland, Cornelia had wanted to have a memorial placed in the most prestigious location in Fiore after she joined Knightmare Frame. The cemetery in Magnolia was the cleanest and most well taken care of cemetery in the region of Fiore that Cornelia could easily travel to. So that was where she had Estelle buried. From the highest point in the cemetery, which is where Cornelia had the grave placed, one could see the sea. Estelle had always liked the sea, always dreamed of traveling across it, but she had never made it across. She had died on the island where she was born, much to Cornelia obvious regret and irritation as she trudged up the pathway.

Euphie, however, was particularly upbeat. She was only four when Estelle died so she had barely known her. Cornelia knew Estelle a lot better so on these days Euphemia would smile extra happily in hopes that her sister would smile. She barely remembered the city of Sylvas, barely remembered the terrifying, horrendous escape.

So, while Cornelia trudged up the pathway like a hit and run accident victim, Euphemia dashed up the pathway towards Estelle's gravestone all peppy and cheerful. When she found Estelle's grave, the only on the small, stone covered pathway, she knelt down in front of it with a boquet of flowers. "Hi Estellise," Euphie said cheerfully said, "I brought you some flowers. They're daisies," Euphie put the flowers in front of the gravestone, "I figured you'd like them." Estelle's body was not buried under her grave marker. The trip from Sylvas had been long and Nonette had advised against bringing Estelle's dead body with them since it could not only attract ocean predators, but Cornelia simply needed to let go. No mage in existence had the power to revive the dead.

"A body is simply a vessel. Her spirit and soul are what matters. It will follow us and house the memorial we build for her, Nellie," Nonette had told her.

So, following Nonette's advice, Cornelia set Estelle's body out at sea, surrounded by a bed of flowers, crossing her hands over her body, making it look like Estelle was merely sleeping. Then, after arriving at the mainland and joining Knightmare Frame, Cornelia, with Marianne's help, build a grave marker and small memorial stone obelisk in her sister's honor. On the gravestone, Cornelia had made the following inscription:

Estellise Sidos Heurassein
X754 – X772
"Dearly beloved sister
a loyal sibling to the very end"

Euphie was busy telling Estelle a whole story as Cornelia finally made it up the inclined pathway. She stood behind her younger sister in front of Estelle's grave with tears in her eyes, wiping them occasionally with her handkerchief. Estelle and Cornelia were only three years apart. They had been incredibly close. Estelle was such a sweetheart, much like Euphie had become. Every day, Cornelia saw a little bit of her older sister in her younger one and it drove Cornelia to protect her younger sister all the more. She would not let Euphie suffer the same fate as Estelle.

Soft and gentle like a lamb and pure like driven snow, Cornelia thought as she choked on some tears, remembering how her sister was often described by others. How had someone so innocent, so sweet, ended up the way she did?

Nonette came up the road with more flowers and a ceramic, halo, painted yellow, which she placed on top of Estelle's grave. "She always was like an angel, so innocent, so pure," Nonette said solemnly.

"I know," Cornelia sobbed.

"Nellie, what have I told you before, it's not your fault."

"I know," Cornelia responded, sniffing. "I was just thinking about what happened again. I was just thinking how…I shouldn't have lied to her and maybe if I hadn't…she might've lived a little longer…

Twelve Years Ago…

City of Sylvas, Heurassein Family Villa

Running down one of the pathways outside the castle by one of the eastern courtyards went a young girl with long, straight, violet hair. This was young Cornelia Heurassein, age 15. She was dressed in a baby blue ballroom dress with long, matching gloves that came up to her elbows along with rigid, matching high heels. She was running at top speed—for heels anyway—heading straight for the armory.

"Ah, Cornelia, where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Cornelia stopped and turned her head towards her right to see a girl crouched in the middle of the courtyard surrounded by butterflies and bluebirds. The girl was eighteen years old with short, pink hair that didn't even reach her shoulders and the most precious teal eyes anyone could lay eyes upon, like the eyes of a doe-eyed fawn. She was wearing a pink dress that came down like a tulip blossom just a little bit past the girl's knees. She was wearing black pantyhose and white stilettos. She was wearing a white corset over her dress that came up to her petit shoulders despite the very broad room on the corset. The corset also came down to the girl's elbows where white, leather gloves completed the girl's appearance. Despite being older than Cornelia, and looking more mature in the face, the girl looked much less mature elsewhere. She stood up as the birds and butterflies flapped away as though parting to reveal the glorious presence of an angel.

"Oh, Estellise, didn't you see you there," Cornelia replied. "I was just…um…"

Estelle walked towards her sister and smiled. "You were trying to sneak out of the castle again, weren't you?"

"I…but…"

Estelle smiled and laughed and then gave Cornelia a much less wide, but still content, soft smile. "It's okay, I won't tell anyone. I promised you, didn't I? I promised you I wouldn't tattle on you for leaving the castle without permission." Estelle played with her fingers. "I…wish I had your bravery, Cornelia. I'm…always too scared to do anything, but you always are able to do what you want when you want. I'm sort of envious of your rebelliousness, even though father said it's unladylike. I've…lived in this castle my whole live. You're the only one of the three of us that's been outside the castle before. You're so lucky to have a friend like Nonette." Estelle looked at the ground in dismay. "I wish I had a friend like that."

Cornelia gave her older sister a hug. "Don't worry, you'll make plenty of friends when we leave this place," Cornelia said, stroking her sister's hair. "Once I come of age we'll execute the plan and we'll be able to leave this place behind and go and see the world like you've always wanted." Cornelia and Estelle's plan was that when Estelle came of age, Nonette would obtain legal documentation to make her Euphie's legal guardian which Estelle, age 21, and Cornelia, age 18, would sign off on as "legal and responsible adults that are family members of the named individual" allowing all three of them to do what they wanted.

Although Estelle was eighteen, Aria and Duke, her parents, wanted their eldest daughter to remain shunned from the "hurtful and deceitful world outside the castle." Estelle was also not as confident in herself as Cornelia. She could never think about setting foot outside the castle on her own, especially with her sisters to worry about with Euphie only a small child and Cornelia still underage. While the middle Heurassein sibling was very self-confident and very tomboyish and rebellious for a princess, she was still young and Estelle worried for her safety if the two would have to head off together. It wasn't Cornelia that Estelle was worried about it was other people and society. Cornelia was always with Nonette whenever she traveled through the common and market districts of Sylvas.

Cornelia's frequented trips outside the castle had changed her. She too used to be cheerful and sweet like Estelle, but through her experiences with Nonette she had become well-rounded, more confident and learned many things that Estelle still had no idea about or could comprehend. Cornelia could walk through a bad part of town and feel secure as long as Nonette stood by her. Or, even if they were separated, she still knew how to handle herself and not to trust the shady people. Estelle, meanwhile, having never left the castle was about as street smart as chewing gum and incredibly naïve.

In response to Cornelia's statement, Estelle held out her pinky. "It's a promise, right?"

"Of course," Cornelia shook her sister's pinky. She then began to walk towards the armory again.

"By the way, Cornelia," Estelle called to her.

"Yes Estellise?"

"When we finally get free…can we…join a mage guild?"

"I solemnly swear on my blood as your younger sister," Cornelia stated as she turned to face Estelle, hand on her heart, "That when we leave the castle that we will become mages and we will go out and see the world on all kinds of missions!"

"Nothing would make me happier," Estelle said and sighed as she looked up at the clouds overhead. "Only three more years."

Cornelia put a gentle hand on her sister's cheek. "Three more years will pass by before you know it Estellise and then we'll leave this oppressive island and its rules behind," she told her.

"Do you think there's a guild that would accept us?" Estelle asked. "And what about Euphemia?"

"You and I will supply for Euphemia. We'll find a guild that suits our talents. We'll take our chunk of the family fortune and we'll live as we have always wanted."

"My, that's quite a pipe dream you both have, isn't it?" Cornelia scowled and turned harshly to look behind her at the flamboyant voice that just sounded through the air. Up walked a man with shoulder length blue hair with purple shoulder guards and gauntlets along with black spandex and red leather armor with a pink zipper line, which was opened in a heart shape by his chest to show off his pectorals. Also he was wearing a very showy white cape with golden lettering. He was also wearing a purple crotch guard over his spandex.

"Geki," Cornelia spoke his name like she was spitting out poison.

"Oh come now, Lady Cornelia why such a harsh greeting?" Geki asked before reaching behind his back and present a bouquet of pink roses to Estelle. "For you, Lady Estellise."

"O-oh, th-thank you," Estelle said taking the flowers.

"They remind me of you, so fragile and soft," Geki complimented.

Cornelia had a right mind to trace a pistol and whip it at Geki's face before knocking the flowers to the ground and crushing them. Geki was the arranged fiancé to Estelle from Bosco, but that wasn't the only reason Cornelia despised this man. It wasn't because Geki was taking Cornelia's sister away from her it was because Geki was an utter slime ball. He might've been well kept and constantly have a dandy persona about him, but Cornelia knew that he was just a rotten, hurtful, deceitful scoundrel on the inside who wanted nothing more than Estelle and the family treasure and the power of the throne.

Geki had first been introduced to Cornelia and Estelle three months ago when he first arrived from overseas. He seemed pleasant at first and Cornelia had tried to do her best not to show her dissatisfaction of the idea of Estelle being rooted to their homeland, never being able to leave the island or the castle for the rest of her life.

Three Months Ago

"Please, take care of my sister," Cornelia had requested, crossing her arm over her body to try and give Geki and Estelle her best.

"Oh don't worry," Geki said, licking his lips, "I'll be taking plenty good care of your sister. I'll teach her all of the things she can't learn from within these walls."

Cornelia glared.

"Oh? Are you being protective? There's little you can do, especially once I'm in charge," Geki replied as he removed his gauntlet and pulled out a nail file, "I'll have absolute control over this entire city: it's guard, it's magic," he put his gauntlet back on and smiled, "and especially its people." He waltzed over to Cornelia and cupped her chin. "You especially, Cornelia Heurassein. I much prefer you to your ditzy older sister, such tenacity, such wildness," he smiled creepily, "it makes me all giddy."

Cornelia pushed Geki away from her and whipped out a pistol. "Don't make me shoot you!" She shouted, holding up a high caliber revolver. "One shot from this will make your brain matter a nice decoration for the wall behind you."

Geki seemed rather disturbed and his expression showed intent to calm Cornelia down. "Come now, Lady Cornelia must this escalate towards violence? Even your status will not help you if you murder someone. You're a mage," Geki leaned back and put a hand on his chest, "and I am a mere civilian. You're not even a guild mage. You would be black listed before you even set foot on the mainland."

Cornelia pushed Geki up against the wall and the barrel into his forehead. "Who has to know?" she asked.

"And what pray tell would you do with my body? How would you explain shots being fired within the castle walls? A bullet to my forehead, when you're the only one in all of Sylvas who uses a gun would make you look one hundred percent guilty, especially when you've presented such a strong motive. Am I worth shooting, answer yourself that?"

Three Months Later

Starting to wish I'd put a bullet through his forehead, Cornelia stated as she continued to glare.

"Now then, Lady Cornelia, I do believe you had somewhere to be, yes?" Geki asked her.

"How is that any of your business?" Cornelia barked.

"It's not," Geki responded as he stood by Estelle and put his arm around his fiancée, "I just wanted some alone time with my bride-to-be." Cornelia's glare became fiercer than ever before.

"That glare of yours is not as intimidating as you think, especially when there's no force behind it," Geki told the middle Heurassein sibling.

"Estellise, do me a favor and close your eyes for a moment," Cornelia responded. Estelle closed her eyes as Cornelia then extended her middle finger towards Geki with a deep, brooding scowl on her face. "Is my message clear as day?"

Geki was trying not to laugh as he smirked. "You are the master of subtlety as always, Lady Cornelia."

"There is no growth spell in the world that would make this gesture big enough to get my message across of how much I loathe you!" Cornelia exclaimed and then turned on her heels and walked away in a huff.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Estelle asked.

"Of course you can, Lady Estellise," Geki told her.

Armory

The Heurassein family armory for the guards and the knights was incredibly spacious with dozens of weapon racks and mannequins for weapons and armor. The room was adequately lit, but had no windows and only had two doors. One led to outside and one that led to a smaller, more exclusive section of the armory, which only so many members of the guard had access to.

At present no one else was in the armory since all of the guardsmen and knights had gotten their equipment hours earlier leaving the vast majority of the armory bare save for what each knight or guardsman would leave in their storage chest, which not all the members of the Heurassein guard were privy to. Cornelia, however, did have her own storage chest and key. Her best friend, Nonette Enneagram, the most powerful guardswoman hired by the Heurassein family, had access to all of the storage chest keys and had given Cornelia one to use for her personal use.

Inside the chest, because of her trace magic, Cornelia only kept a hair and makeup kit, a maroon button down shirt and matching pair of pants, along with white gloves and boots. The outfit was given to her by Nonette to help her blend in so that Cornelia wouldn't draw attention to herself. The brush and makeup kit was so Cornelia could go out and return looking like a lady of the noble court. Just because she would be dressing like a commoner didn't mean she couldn't look pretty. Nonette certainly didn't shirk her appearance, Cornelia figured she should do the same.

As no one else was in the armory, Cornelia took out her outfit, unzipped her dress and neatly folded it into the storage chest. She then put on her pants, her shirt, her boots and her then fastened on her gloves in that order. Following this she then removed the pins from her hair and then traced a battery powered blow dryer and pulled a mirror out of her kit to until she had her hair styled and blown to a nice somewhat wavy design. She then detraced the hairdryer, took one last look at herself in the mirror, taking care to smooth out some wrinkles before closing and locking the chest, tracing a bayonet shotgun complete with sheathe and heading out.

Nonette was waiting for her at the castle entrance by the drawbridge and waved enthusiastically with a big smile as Cornelia neared. The woman who was nine years older than Cornelia was wearing a tight fitting, black sleeveless shirt with a pair of long, white pants. Her short, corn husk colored hair was unmistakable with the way it was styled: a braid dangling off the left side and a straight lock coming down the right.

"Remember," she said to the guards with a friendly smile and her hands clapped together, "You never saw us."

"Y-yes Miss Nonette," one guard said.

"Of course, Miss Nonette," the other responded.

"Good boys," Nonette said in sing song as Cornelia walked right passed them. "You all set Nellie?"

"Y-yeah, but um…where's your…um…" Cornelia was noting how Nonette wasn't wearing her brigade jacket and cape.

"Oh it's faaaar too hot to be wearing that," Nonette said, flapping her hand up and down. "Which reminds me, we need to get you some summer wear too," she grabbed Cornelia's arm and yanked her forward, "Come on!"

"Waaah!" Cornelia yelped as Nonette pulled her younger friend and ran forward with her towards town. "Nonette, hold on, I can run by myself. I," Cornelia tripped over a rock as she stumbled, "ack."

Nonette stopped running and let go of Cornelia. "Sorry," she apologized, "I guess I got over enthusiastic again, but can you blame me?" She smiled and put a hand on her hip. "We're going monster hunting today to protect the city. It's the chance of a lifetime for you."

"What? You mean you actually want me to come on a mission with you guys?"

Nonette nodded, "Yup! Yup!" she exclaimed with a cheerful smile. "Are you excited?"

"You bet I am!" Today had gone from bad to awesome for Cornelia. Monster hunting, for the tomboyish noble, nothing could be more exciting.

"Well first let's stop by the clothing store. You are not going hiking in that you'll roast." Nonette clapped her hands. "I already reserved the perfect outfit. It'll suit you just fine."

"Um…sure, I guess," Cornelia answered.

"Well come on, let's go! You should know where it is by now! Race ya!" Nonette took off with a dash.

"Ah, hey! Come on! No fair with the head start!" Cornelia complained, stomping her foot and began chasing her friend towards the clothing store. As she trailed behind Nonette though she smiled as she remembered the first time she met the older woman.

Nonette was the guildmaster of the small guild: Meteor Wing. However, while a legal guild, the guild had no room and board and just travelled using what funds they had to keep them afloat. They were only a guild of only six members—including Nonette, but all of the members were A-class aside from Nonette herself who was superior to most S-class mages and could quite possibly make the wizard saints one day.

Meteor Wing was currently under the employ of the Heurassein family. They got free room and board in town—paid for by Cornelia's father—and got paid on by commission for things they were ordered to do. For the entire guild, they considered this a good deal. However, the contract was under Cornelia's father, Duke Heurassein, and would expire after he stopped ruling or he passed away.

When Meteor Wing was first introduced to Cornelia and her sister, five years ago, Cornelia was excited. She had never met other mages before aside from her parents and her sister. Instantly she ingratiated herself to Nonette who thought Cornelia, ten years old at the time, was adorable and had smooshed the young girl against her bosom. Nonette took a very fond liking to Cornelia and would tell her all sorts of adventures, adventures that Estelle's fictional fairy tales and history books couldn't hope to tell her about.

From the time they first met until the time Cornelia was twelve, she would listen to Nonette's stories in full. Then, as the day of her thirteenth birthday approached, Cornelia snuck out of the castle in the middle of the night. She scaled down the front wall—since the drawbridge was up—with some rope and found the town very pretty all lit up at night.

Unfortunately for Cornelia, Nonette had spotted her long before she'd ever made it to the castle walls.

Three Years Ago

As she stood behind a bush, her back towards the castle walls, Cornelia looked out over the horizon, seeing the town all lit up.

"It's so pretty. It's just like Nonette said," Cornelia stated in a loud whisper.

"It sure is," a familiar, upbeat voice stated right next to Cornelia. Cornelia turned her head to see Nonette standing right there.

"Wha—Nonette! I…uh…I wasn't…"

Nonette simply smiled and laughed cheerfully. "Don't worry I won't tell," she then opened her eyes, "If you wanted to go out of the castle, you could've just asked. I can get you out no problem."

"What? Really?" Cornelia's enthusiasm suddenly died. "Wait, what's the catch?"

"No catch," Nonette said proudly as she held up her index finger and then put her arm around Cornelia and pulled the short, young girl next to her tall, lanky body. "I like you, Nellie. We're gonna be best friends forever. So," Nonette said, facing towards the town, "Want a preview?"

"Yeah!" Cornelia said enthusiastically.

"Great, but the moment you fall asleep I'm taking you home, got it? And don't cause trouble or I gotta take you straight home."

"Okay!"

Three Years Later

As Cornelia and Nonette reached the clothing shop, Nonette picked up the outfit she was getting for Cornelia and had her try it on. The outfit consisted of gray shorts and a sleeveless, tight fitting t-shirt with Meteor Wing's guild emblem—a dragon wing with a blade running through it in the other direction—imprinted on the left side of the stomach and the number '7' embroidered on the left breast.

"How does it fit?"

"Rather snuggly," Cornelia commented as she stood in front of the dressing room barefoot. "It's not uncomfortable though. I feel much cooler in this than the other uniform."

Nonette smiled, "Told ya didn't I? By the way here," she handed Cornelia some socks and gray sneakers, "Your boots aren't meant for hiking."

"Thanks," Cornelia said, putting the shoes on.

"Now come on, let's go meet up with the others," Nonette said holding Cornelia's other outfit in her hands. She intended to put the items in her trunk when they got to the place the team was renting out. Nonette and Cornelia left and headed for the inn Meteor Wing resided in.

The White Rabbit Inn

With Cornelia behind her, Nonette threw open the front door to the inn with a cheer and a smile and a friendly, "I'm back!"

Her comrades looked up from around the inn lobby. One of them, a young woman a year older than Estelle, had blue hair in an updo with pink eyes. She was wearing a bikini breastplate and crotch guard with a white cape as well as what appeared to be purple and red boots made out of dragon's skin. She was currently leaned over the pool table with her bosoms nearly touching the felt. Her name was Elizabeth Saturn. She was often referred to by her guild as simply "Liz".

Checking out Liz's fine ass with an almost bored expression, sitting at the bar sipping 6oz of brandy with shoulder length, raven colored hair wearing an open black leather vest, pants and boots was Kyle Regent, age 21. He had his and Liz's primary weapons—a normal looking katana and spear with a double helix running down the handle with the blade portion the shape and size of a dragon's fang respectively—sitting on the bar table next to him.

Sitting curled up on the floor, next to Kyle's feet was a large purplish-pink wolf with a scar over her right eye. It was a female and her name was Kendra. She was Kyle's pet. She wore a strap around her stomach that had a sheathed dagger next to her left foreleg. She also had a very furry neck, chest and forehead, like a lion's mane. Kyle found her in the woods with her eye having taking a grazing by a hunter's bullet and trying to walk with her left paw caught in a bear trap. Rather than put the poor thing out of its misery, Kyle took it home and nursed the wolf back to health. He would later find the hound capable of magic, which was why it was a full-fledged member of Meteor Wing. Kendra couldn't speak human language, but apparently not only could she understand humans, but apparently Kyle could translate for her.

Cleaning the table, wearing a maid outfit, was another member of Meteor Wing: Sayoko Shinozaki. She was the same age as Nonette and was trained in the masterful arts of being a ninja maid. She always wore her maid outfit as a means of getting her opponent's to underestimate her. But she was one of the faster members of Meteor Wing.

The final member of Meteor Wing, not including Nonette, was a man with short blonde hair, currently wearing a blue t-shirt and some brown shorts. In the colder weather though, he often sported a full set of plated armor with the guild's emblem in the center of his breastplate. His name was Lucas Senshiro, often referred to by Kyle as just "Luke". He was often found sporting a sword and shield and had a specialty of light and healing magic as well as magic reinforcement to increase the durability and strength of whatever he clamped his hand around and enchanted.

"Awesome," Kyle stated. He got up off the stool he was sitting on as he grabbed his and Liz's weapons. He tossed Liz her spear as he walked towards Nonette. Liz put the pool stick down, spun, grabbed the spear and swung it down at her side. Luke, Sayoko and Kendra followed suit to assemble in front of their guildmaster.

"Let's go kick some canine butt," Liz pumped her fist. "No offense, Kendra." The wolf let out a growling bark.

"Kendra says 'none taken'."

"We're going wolf hunting?" Cornelia asked.

"I'll explain on the way," Nonette told her. "I just gotta put your other outfit in the trunk upstairs." Nonette went up to the second floor, leaving Cornelia with the others.

"Hey, Kyle," Cornelia stated brooding, "You're all about breaking rules, mind breaking in and killing my sister's fiancé?"

"Whoa, hey, easy there princess," Kyle remarked, "I'm crazy, but I'm not an idiot. Having a prison record is one thing, but murder is something else. I know you hate the guy, but don't you think that's a bit extreme."

"You just don't want his blood contaminating your blade," Liz said with a teasing smile.

"Yeah that too," Kyle said glancing up and to the side. "Highlander's too good for that smug bastard."

"Can we not talk about murder so casually," Luke remarked, "Your making me uneasy again, Kyle."

"Oh lighten up, Luke," Kyle said with a scowl, "You hate the guy just as much as we do. Once he gets in charge he might fire us or do horrible things to Nonette, Saya and Liz."

Luke sighed. "Normally I'd tell you that you always see the worst in people, but for once I think you might be onto something. We'll figure something out though." He looked at Cornelia. "Don't worry, Lady Cornelia. We won't let you or your sister down."

Cornelia smiled, happy to have her friends at her back.

Footsteps from above were heard as Nonette came flying down the stairs. "Right," she said as she walked around Liz and Cornelia, "Let's go team!" She headed out the door and led the team towards the forest on the western side of the city.

"By the way, Cornelia, love the fashion statement. It suits you," Kyle told her.

"Heh, thanks," Cornelia smiled. She then turned towards Nonette at the front. "Anyway, Nonette, what's this about wolf hunting?"

"Apparently there's this wolf running around known as Gattuso. He's supposed to be as big as a house and eats sheep whole or at least that's what I've heard."

"It's probably just the townspeople frightened. I highly doubt there could be a wolf that big," Sayoko stated.

"Hey if it is that big the bigger they are the harder they fall!" Kyle declared triumphantly. Kendra barked proudly.

"I like the way you think," Liz giggled.

"Careful you two," Luke told them, "Need I remind both of you what happened when you two tried to assault the Rune Knights visiting here last week?"

"But they called me useless," Liz pouted.

"And besides Liz and I were slightly intoxicated. If we had been at full alertness the captain wouldn't have had to step in." Kyle often referred to Nonette as "the captain" or "Boss" and, on some rare occasions, "major", since he never was able to come up with a nickname for her. "Besides, anything short of a dragon and, no matter how big, we'll turn the beast responsible into a nice piece of steak." Kendra howled approvingly.

"Couldn't agree more," Nonette stated.

The group continued on well into the woods and kept on the forest path in between the trees.

"So do we have any idea where this beast is?" Cornelia asked.

"From what I heard it's near the clearing by the mountains, which means we have to hike right through the forest and circle towards the northern coast before we can even get close to this beast's den."

"Thing must be pretty fast if it's constantly attacking town," Kyle noted.

Nonette smirked, "Heh, no matter how fast, once time has stopped," she whipped out a dagger, "your vulnerable." Nonette then began spinning the dagger in her hand. "And once your vulnerable," Nonette continued to twirl the weapon until she abruptly grabbed it with reverse grip and glared at her teammates, "in goes the knife through your back." She then put the dagger away and continued onward with a cheerful smile and humming a happy tune.

"You know she really scares me sometimes," Kyle remarked. Kendra let out an agreeable whine.

At the very end of the forest pathway, Nonette cut down a few trees with her daggers—one slash per—before carrying them down the pathway and laying them out on the side of the meadow. "Right, we'll break here to catch our breath. Sayoko, you have rations?"

"Of course, guildmaster," Sayoko responded respectably. The group sat down on the three logs Nonette had chopped down and took a load off. They sat along the grass, letting the summer breeze cool down the sweat dripping down their face. Sayoko passed out some sandwiches that Kyle had prepared that morning. It was fried egg on toast with cheese.

"You cook well as always," Cornelia said with a mouth full of food.

"Oh come on," Kyle said, as he lay upon the ground, sandwich wrapper next to him, "Don't stroke my ego, Nellie. You get a buffet every night while we're stuck with soup and beans."

"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," Cornelia said taking another bite.

"It is said that a good chef can make even the most mundane meals taste extraordinary," Sayoko input.

"Cornelia's right though," Nonette said, munching bits of egg and cheese between her cheeks, "Kyle cooks really well. Do you do something when you cook?"

"He must have some sort of secret ingredient," Lucas stated.

"That must be it!" Nonette exclaimed. "Come on Kyle, what is it? What's the secret to your cooking?"

"Love," Kyle answered without hesitating.

Cornelia nearly choked. Lucas stopped mid-bite.

"Oh you're such a liar," Liz said sarcastically.

"Pssht, yeah," Kyle chuckled. "I just wanted to see everyone's reactions."

Cornelia huffed and continued eating.

After lunch, the group headed off and circled the mountain base until they came towards a pathway that would take them towards a cul-de-sac in the middle of the mountain range. "Gattuso should be just up this hill," Nonette responded, "Be on your guard."

The group proceeded up the hill, only to find the situation a little different than they would have liked. First of all Gattuso, the wolf they were sent to hunt down, turned out to be enormous. He was well over twenty feet tall and forty feet long and proportionally wide. He had blue fur with brown paws and fearsome red eyes.

However, that was not what had caught the group's eye. At present the mighty wolf was locked in combat with an even larger fire-breathing, red scaled dragon. Gattuso tried to bite through the dragon's hardened scales but the mighty beast simply unleashed a huge gale of fire and smashed the wolf into the mountainside before pinning Gattuso down and scrapping its nails deep enough to kill the beast with cranial penetration.

"Well…that happened," Kyle remarked. "I shouldn't have made that dragon comment."

With Gattuso dead, the great beast turned its attention towards the others and roared. "It's coming," Nonette stated, "Be on your guard."

Cornelia drew out her shotgun and armed herself with a pistol. Kyle whipped out Highlander and ex-quipped a spiked-gauntlet to his left hand, Kendra pulled out her dagger, holding it between her teeth, Liz readied her spear, Sayoko's hands began to glow, Luke pulled out his sword and shield from behind his back and Nonette took a stance.

"No one act rashly," Luke said in a low whisper.

"Do I look like I want to antagonize a dragon?" Kyle asked.

"I never know with you," Luke remarked.

Seeing the dragon up so close, its massive size, hardened scales and gleaming yellow eyes, Cornelia could tell just from looking at it that there was no way the group stood an ant's chance in a boot factory of winning. And so, for the first time in her life she prayed. She prayed for a miracle that would let everyone live.

"When a dragon attacks, there are no bystanders."
–Gajeel Redfox

To be continued…

(A/N: Okay obviously we know Cornelia and Nonette make it out of this alive, but what about the others? Yes I am cutting it right there. I wanted to go on for a bit longer, but if I don't end it here this is going to go on for six thousand more words and I am NOT doing that. Also, if you guys don't hear from me after a couple of days it's because I'm too busy playing Project X Zone and/or Deadpool's game. However, just to spoil for those of you who are wondering what's going to happen: HINT HINT: note the dragon's element and color and note that the year we are in is X772. That's all I am going to say. Ja ne!)